logo
Bruce Selya, revered RI judge, dies at 90

Bruce Selya, revered RI judge, dies at 90

Yahoo23-02-2025

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Bruce Selya, a longtime Rhode Island judge who rose to serve on the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, has died. He was 90.
The Providence native was the first Jewish judge to sit on the federal bench in Rhode Island when he was nominated by President Ronald Reagan in 1982. Four years later, Reagan tapped Selya to serve on the appellate court in Boston.
Selya entered senior status at the 1st Circuit in 2006 but continued to hear cases as recently as last year.
Among those who clerked for Selya in Boston was Ketanji Brown Jackson, who would later become a justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. In 2022 – when Brown Jackson was President Joe Biden's pick to serve on the country's highest court – Selya told 12 News, 'I literally don't think that the president could have made a better choice.'
Selya was known for his expansive vocabulary and creatively written decisions. He told a legal website in a 2004 interview, 'I don't believe there are obscure words — just neglected ones.'
In 2022, when the 1st Circuit rejected convicted Fall River Mayor Jasiel Correia's bid for a new trial, Selya wrote that the disgraced official's arguments were 'all foam and no beer.'
U.S. Sen. Jack Reed called Selya a 'legal legend whose outstanding contributions to the community and the people of Rhode Island go well beyond his four decades of remarkable service on the federal bench.'
'As a judge, Bruce Selya was nationally renowned and respected and set a high bar that many others in his profession admire and aspire to reach,' Reed said in a statement. 'As a man, he will be remembered for his exemplary devotion to the law and uplifting others, particularly those in his beloved hometown of Providence.'
Reed said Selya took part in more than 1,800 decisions 'that helped shape and influence the nation's jurisprudence.'
Selya attended Classical High School in Providence, then went on to Harvard for both his undergraduate and law degrees.
After entering senior status, Selya served as chief judge of the U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review, which reviews electronic surveillance warrants sought by federal authorities.
In 2023, the city of Providence renamed a street adjacent to U.S. District Court 'Bruce Selya Way.' In a ceremony attended by a who's-who of the Rhode Island legal community, political leaders and family and friends, Selya talked about his Providence roots.
'Any way you slice it, I am a Providence guy and I think that you can understand against that backdrop why this street naming has such great meaning for me,' Selya said. 'The street itself is a short street, but it runs adjacent to this building and so it links me in perpetuity both with the city that I love and with the courthouse that has become my second home.'
WATCH: Judge Selya's speech during street renaming
Tim White (twhite@wpri.com) is Target 12 managing editor and chief investigative reporter and host of Newsmakers for 12 News. Connect with him on Twitter and Facebook.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Self-proclaimed 'Jew hater' pleads guilty after targeting victims at NYC protests
Self-proclaimed 'Jew hater' pleads guilty after targeting victims at NYC protests

Yahoo

time22 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Self-proclaimed 'Jew hater' pleads guilty after targeting victims at NYC protests

A New York man charged with federal hate crimes after repeatedly assaulting Jewish counter-protesters at anti-Israel protests in New York City between 2024 and 2025, pleaded guilty to one count as part of an agreement during a court hearing Wednesday. Tarek Bazrouk, 20, appeared Wednesday afternoon for a status hearing in federal court, where he was facing three counts of committing hate crimes for allegedly targeting and assaulting Jewish people at three NYC protests related to the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. A grand jury indicted him last month. During the status hearing, Bazrouk pleaded guilty to one count as part of an agreement in which a superseding information document was presented. In essence, the document replaces a previously filed indictment in a criminal case. A bearded Bazrouk appeared in court wearing a tan jumpsuit and black eyeglasses and shuffled through papers while waiting for the hearing to get underway. Rise In Antisemitic Extremism Fuels Wave Of Terror Plots In The United States Since 2020 Judge Richard M. Berman presided over the hearing and began by saying he was informed Bazrouk was planning to plead guilty. After going through some documents and verifying with Bazrouk that was the route he wanted to take, Berman asked him if he wished to plead guilty. Read On The Fox News App "I wish to plead guilty," Bazrouk said. Bazrouk then read a statement saying, between April 2024 and January 2025, he assaulted others because of their identity. He further admitted to punching someone Jan. 6. "I am very sorry," Bazrouk said. Boulder Terror Attack Latest In Antisemitic Incidents Rising Across Us In 2025 He continued, explaining he is Palestinian and started to protest as a way to express outrage over Israel's actions in Gaza. Bazrouk apologized to his family and community before the judge asked if he was pleading to the superseding information. "Yes, your honor," Bazrouk said. The plea was then accepted, and he was found guilty. Sentencing is tentatively scheduled for Oct. 1. Boulder, Colorado Suspected Terror Attack Suspect Mohamed Sabry Soliman Faces Murder, Assault, Other Charges Bazrouk was arrested for three instances of assaulting Jewish people but "remained undeterred and quickly returned to using violence to target Jews in New York City," according to U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton of the Southern District of New York. The first instance took place April 15, 2024, when Bazrouk, who the DOJ said was wearing a green headband "typically worn by Hamas terrorists," allegedly attended a protest outside the New York Stock Exchange in lower Manhattan. Virginia Man Charged With Planning 'Mass Casualty' Attack At Nyc Israeli Consulate He was arrested by the NYPD for lunging at a group of pro-Israel protesters, the DOJ said, and kicked a Jewish college student in the stomach while being taken to a patrol vehicle. The person he kicked was standing near Jewish protesters wearing kippahs, waving Israeli flags and singing Jewish songs. Bazrouk allegedly assaulted another Jewish student Dec. 9, 2024, during a protest near a university in upper Manhattan, the DOJ said. The second victim was with his brother – both were wearing kippahs – and had an Israeli flag draped across his shoulders while singing Jewish songs. Bazrouk was accused of stealing their flag and running off. The victim and his brother chased him through the crowd to retrieve it, and after they got it back, Bazrouk allegedly sneaked up beside the second victim and punched him in the face. At the beginning of this year, on Jan. 6, Bazrouk allegedly committed his third assault on a Jewish person at a protest in Manhattan. The third victim had an Israeli flag draped around his shoulders and was wearing a hat with the flag and a chain with the Star of David. Bazrouk was wearing a keffiyeh on his face when he allegedly "made contact" with the third victim's shoulder and wrapped his foot around his ankle. When the victim attempted to push him away, Bazrouk allegedly cursed at him and punched him in the nose. Law enforcement obtained warrants to search a cellphone allegedly used by Bazrouk, which revealed an "antisemitic bias" and "support for anti-Jewish terrorist groups, including Hamas," the DOJ said, citing court documents. Bazrouk allegedly identified himself as a "Jew hater" in text messages, called Jewish people "worthless" and said "Allah" wanted "us [to] rid of [Jews]," among other vulgar statements, according to the documents. The documents added he told a friend he was "mad happy" when he found out family members overseas were part of Hamas. The DOJ described his phone as "littered with pro-Hamas and pro-Hizballah (sic) propaganda." Fox News Digital's Kirill Clark and Elizabeth Pritchett contributed to this article source: Self-proclaimed 'Jew hater' pleads guilty after targeting victims at NYC protests

Fireworks to return for Attleboro's Independence Day celebration
Fireworks to return for Attleboro's Independence Day celebration

Yahoo

time37 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Fireworks to return for Attleboro's Independence Day celebration

ATTLEBORO, Mass. (WPRI) — This year's Independence Day festivities in Attleboro will once again include a fireworks display. Mayor Cathleen DeSimone said last year's laser show was 'well received by many folks in the community,' but there 'was a clear preference for fireworks' after the city conducted a social media poll. 'Last summer, after receiving the results of the poll, I asked Recreation Director Christy Clausen to lead a team of staff members and community volunteers in planning and fundraising for a fireworks display this summer,' she explained. BACKGROUND: Attleboro mayor suggests laser light show in lieu of fireworks This year's display will be at 9 p.m. on Thursday, July 3, at Hayward Field on North Avenue. According to DeSimone, the event—which includes the fireworks, food trucks, entertainment and public safety details—will cost around $60,000. (For reference, last year's laser show was $15,000.) The funding for this year's event will mainly come from donations and sponsorships, DeSimone said. The Municipal Council also approved city funding. DeSimone said she also hopes the city can find more people to join the volunteer committee and community partners to share the costs of the event with a big milestone coming up. 'With next year being the country's 250th birthday, we are going to need extra help planning and fundraising,' she said. NEXT: Lisa Field wins special election for late Rep. Carol Doherty's Taunton seat Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Ballot order decided for Ruggerio's former Senate seat
Ballot order decided for Ruggerio's former Senate seat

Yahoo

time37 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Ballot order decided for Ruggerio's former Senate seat

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — The order of the candidates' names on the ballot for this summer's Senate District 4 special election has been decided. A ballot placement lottery was held Wednesday at the R.I. Board of Elections in Providence. The special election was called after Senate President Dominick Ruggerio died in April after a lengthy battle with cancer and other illnesses. For the Aug. 5 general election, Republican Alex Asermely's name will go first, followed by the Democratic nominee's name. A primary election to decide which Democrat out of the four running will face Asermely is on July 8. RELATED: Here are the candidates for Ruggerio's old Senate seat The order for the Democratic primary's ballot is North Providence District 2 Town Councilman Stefano Famiglietti, former Providence state Rep. Marcia Ranglin-Vassell, Manuel Taveras and Lenny Cioe. (Famiglietti was endorsed by the district committee, which locked in his name going first, per state law.) Stephen Tocco, an independent, filed to run for the seat but withdrew. Tocco said Wednesday he rescinded his candidacy to avoid being a spoiler candidate in the general election. The district represents parts of Providence and North Providence. This is the first time the seat has opened up since Ruggerio started representing it in 1985. NEXT: Lisa Field wins special election for late Rep. Carol Doherty's Taunton seat Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store